Major Crimes agency head Kim Ji-yong vows to end politicisation of investigations
In short
Kim Ji-yong (김지용), the first head of South Korea's Major Crimes Investigation Agency, said on 19 October that he would end the politicisation of investigations and keep fairness, neutrality and procedural justice. He spoke to reporters on arriving at the agency's headquarters in Seoul. Asked about attending cabinet meetings, he said he would decide after consulting the relevant laws and agencies.
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Kim Ji-yong (김지용), the first head of the Major Crimes Investigation Agency (중대범죄수사청), said on 19 October that he would end the politicisation of investigations. He spoke to reporters at about 08:50 as he arrived at the agency's headquarters in Jung District, Seoul. [ 8 , 13 , 18 ]
Kim said the former prosecution had various harms, such as abuse of investigative power, and that he thought politicisation of investigations was at their root. He said the agency would keep fairness, neutrality and procedural justice so that it becomes an investigative body the public does not worry about. [ 13 , 18 , 25 ]
He set out three guidelines: settling the agency in early, ending politicisation, and protecting the socially vulnerable and crime victims. He said he asked Deputy Head Jeon Jong-min (전종민) to lead a task force to complete the agency's human and material infrastructure. He called protecting citizens' rights the agency's fundamental goal and said he would prove its necessity through results. [ 8 , 18 , 21 , 25 ]
Asked whether he would attend cabinet meetings, Kim said he would decide appropriately after consulting the relevant laws and agencies. Chosun Ilbo said the acting head, Jeon, attended the 6 October cabinet meeting and a controversy over political neutrality followed. Dong-A Ilbo said President Lee Jae-myung told the cabinet last December that heads of agencies attached to ministries should attend unless there are special circumstances, and that on 13 October Lee said he could not agree with criticism that this harms neutrality, calling it natural under the constitution. [ 13 , 18 , 25 ]
On the responsible-investigation system he mentioned at his confirmation hearing, Kim said it does not necessarily aim at indictment but at handling cases as they turn out, and that details would be set out in a manual. He said the agency can already conduct some investigations with its current staff, that few cases have arrived at this early stage, and that more are expected. [ 8 , 13 , 25 ]
Lee approved Kim's appointment on 15 October, and Kim first came to work on 16 October. The agency began operating on 2 October with 1,900 staff, 66.1% of its authorised 2,874, Kyunghyang Shinmun reported, and its computer systems are not yet complete. Maeil Business said cases including a complaint against Lee have been filed with the agency. [ 1 , 8 , 13 , 39 ]
Why it matters
The agency began work about two weeks before its first head took office, and outlets describe settling it in as his first task. Maeil Business said cases involving politicians and senior officials, including a complaint against President Lee Jae-myung, have been filed with the agency and will test his pledge of neutrality.
Key facts
- Kim Ji-yong, the first head of the Major Crimes Investigation Agency (중대범죄수사청), spoke to reporters on 19 October as he arrived at its headquarters in Jung District, Seoul, at about 08:50. [ 8 , 13 , 18 ]
- He named three operating guidelines: settling the agency in early, ending the politicisation of investigations, and protecting the socially vulnerable and crime victims. [ 8 , 21 , 25 ]
- On attending cabinet meetings, Kim said he would decide appropriately after consulting the relevant laws and agencies. [ 11 , 13 , 18 , 25 ]
- President Lee Jae-myung approved Kim's appointment on 15 October, and Kim first came to work on 16 October. [ 8 , 13 ]
- Kim said the agency can handle some investigations with its current staff, that few cases have arrived so far, and that more are expected. [ 8 , 25 ]
- The agency began operating on 2 October with 1,900 staff, 66.1% of its authorised 2,874, Kyunghyang Shinmun reported. [ 1 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- Kim said the former prosecution's abuses of investigative power had politicisation of investigations at their root, and that the agency would keep fairness, neutrality and procedural justice. [ 8 , 13 , 18 , 21 , 25 ]
- Kim said he asked Deputy Head Jeon Jong-min (전종민) to lead a task force to settle the agency in quickly and complete its human and material infrastructure. [ 8 , 18 , 21 , 25 ]
- Asked whether he would attend cabinet meetings, Kim said he would decide after consulting the relevant laws and agencies. [ 11 , 13 , 18 , 25 ]
- Kim said responsible investigation does not necessarily aim at indictment, and that details will be set out in a manual. [ 8 , 13 , 18 , 25 ]
- President Lee Jae-myung approved Kim's appointment on 15 October. [ 8 , 13 ]
Still unclear
- Whether Kim will attend cabinet meetings. Kim did not decide; he said he would consult the relevant laws and agencies.
- The agency's first detention: the Seoul branch's drug investigation bureau obtained an arrest warrant on 18 October for a Southeast Asian national, identified as A. Only Newsis reported this.
- The outcome of the agency's audit of Im Eun-jung (임은정), head of the Gwangju branch. Kyunghyang Shinmun reported that the audit began on 12 October on the interior minister's instruction and that Im said she would keep criticising Kim; no result is reported.
- Which case will be the agency's first direct investigation. Seoul Shinmun said the agency's intelligence officers have begun gathering information and a first target is expected soon; no case is named.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- Kim arrives at the agency headquarters on 19 October and answers reporters' questions. [ 12 , 13 , 18 ]
- Yonhap issues its first breaking-news item quoting Kim. [ 6 ]
- Newsis and Seoul Economic Daily publish detailed accounts of the remarks, including the cabinet-meeting answer. [ 21 , 22 ]
- Maeil Business reports that cases involving politicians and senior officials, including a complaint against President Lee, have been filed with the agency. [ 39 ]